1 gallon tank fishless cycle is stalled

I have had a 1 gallon tank set up for about three weeks now. The tanks is a Aqueon miniBow 1. It comes with a filter and I got some decor and gravel. For the first week of the tank being set up I had a betta living in it. The betta died so I started doing a fishless cycle. About a week after starting the fishless cyclinig process, I had to move into my dorm, I tried to keep the benifical bacteria alive by not completely emptying the tank and putting the filter sponge into a bag of tank water during the trip (not sure if it helped though). So now the tank is completely set up again, and has been for 8 days. I put some fish food (betta micro floating betta pellet food) into the tank to help produce ammonia for the tank. For the past 7 days the ammonia levels in the tank have stayed the same at 2ppm. The water hp is 7.6, and the room temperature is 74F (I don't have much control of heating in my dorm). I did decholinate the water before filling the tank up again. The filter I have is a small HOB filter with a sponge (not carbon) pad to remove the excess waste from the water.

P.S. I am not looking for people to tell me that it is impossible to cycle my tank or tell me my choice of tank was wrong. I know it is possible to cycle a 1 gallon tank, and I have invested enough of my time in this to want to see this work out. I know maybe this small of a tank may be difficult to cycle, but all I want to know is why my tank could be stalling.

 

Yes, 1 gallons are almost in possible to cycle!

 

I had the 2.5 minibow in a dorm and a guy on my floor had the 1 gallon version. I know he didn't cycle it and that betta survived. That being said cycle your tank. How I cycled the 2.5 and my current 5.5 is with tetra safe start plus. Now I only really have experience with fish in cycles (not the most popular choice) but it is possible with hardy fish. If you are dead set on the fishless cycle go ahead. However this is what I'd do/get.

GET
Tetra safe start plus (they have little bottles that are cheaper but size doesn't matter your going to use all of the bottle
API master test kit (or good liquid test kit)
Seachem prime (this dechlorinates water and "sets" ammmonia, nitrate, and nitrite to zero for 24 hours)(also I believe they have a smaller version with a dropper, it makes measuring a lot easier)

PROCESS
1. Drain (empty or almost empty to rid any ammonia) and refill tank
2. Wait 24 hours
3. Get betta and add TSS+ with the fish
4. Sit and don't touch the tank for two weeks (although if you want you could do water tests to check progress).
5. After two weeks get really good at maintaince and keeping up with WC.

All that being said if you want to do a fishless cycle go ahead, I just don't have experience to help you there.

I really enjoyed and still enjoy having fish in college, they help a lot with stress. Yeah its hard as we are constrained by budgets, moving ability, time, and size requirements but it's possible. My final question though is are you sure there isn't carbon in the filter? As far as I knew all aqueon replacement cartridges have carbon in them.

 

The tank came with a carbon filter, but I decided to replace it because it was nearing the end of it's use and I wanted a reusable filter medium

 

Okay good choice those pads and that filter are just terrible.

 

Are you doing any water changes? And are any nitrites or nitrates showing up at all?

 

My 1 gallon aqueon tank is showing green algea, so I think it has nitrates, hence the tank would be cycled. It houses a single juvenile female betta and a small stem of anacharis that has new growth on it.

 

My 1 gallon aqueon tank is showing green algea, so I think it has nitrates, hence the tank would be cycled. It houses a single juvenile female betta and a small stem of anacharis that has new growth on it.

Algae does not guarantee nitrates. Algae actually feeds on ammonia....

 

I don't do any water changes since there is no fish, and no, no nitrites have shown up what soever

 

Are you adding any bacterial supplement to speed it up? And the ammonia has consistently for the whole week shown 2ppm?

 

No I am not adding anything to supplement the process, and yes the ammonia level has stayed consistent with no dip what soever

 

So does anyone know why my tank could not be cycling?

 

I have had a 1 gallon tank set up for about three weeks now. The tanks is a Aqueon miniBow 1. It comes with a filter and I got some decor and gravel. For the first week of the tank being set up I had a betta living in it. The betta died so I started doing a fishless cycle. About a week after starting the fishless cyclinig process, I had to move into my dorm, I tried to keep the benifical bacteria alive by not completely emptying the tank and putting the filter sponge into a bag of tank water during the trip (not sure if it helped though). So now the tank is completely set up again, and has been for 8 days. I put some fish food (betta micro floating betta pellet food) into the tank to help produce ammonia for the tank. For the past 7 days the ammonia levels in the tank have stayed the same at 2ppm. The water hp is 7.6, and the room temperature is 74F (I don't have much control of heating in my dorm). I did decholinate the water before filling the tank up again. The filter I have is a small HOB filter with a sponge (not carbon) pad to remove the excess waste from the water.

P.S. I am not looking for people to tell me that it is impossible to cycle my tank or tell me my choice of tank was wrong. I know it is possible to cycle a 1 gallon tank, and I have invested enough of my time in this to want to see this work out. I know maybe this small of a tank may be difficult to cycle, but all I want to know is why my tank could be stalling.

Welcome to the forum

Could you also test your tap water for pH and ammonia? Are you getting any nitrites or nitrates at all?

If you can, I'd get a small heater as the bacteria would populate a lot faster in temps around 80-82. The cold temps is probably also contributing to the slower cycle. And while fish food can be used, it takes a long time for it to break down and be processed which is why so many recommend pure ammonia to use.

You have to also keep in mind that cycling can take up to 12 weeks. Using a bacteria supplement like Tetra SafeStart Plus or Seachem Stability will speed that up to 2-3 weeks.

Also, a betta requires a 2.5g min. If this tank is all you have room for, I'd just make it a shrimp tank.

 

Get a heater. They'll multiply like crazy if you turn it up to 80-82.

Edit: And 1 gallon is VERY hard to cycle. Get 2.5 minimum or 5 gallons.
The only thing that belongs in 1 gallons is a few shrimp.

 

A 1 gallon tank is hard to cycle but is is duable. As mentioned using SafeStart and stability will help speed the tank cycle.

 

if I get a 2.5 gal tank, how many fish can I keep in it? (fish like guppies, you know small, easy to care for fish)

 

I don't know any fish other than a single betta that would be ok in a 2.5g and even that is too small, IMO. Guppies would need a 10 gallon min.

 

I believe the least killifish can be in a 2 gallon tank and be fine!

 

I had guppies in my 2.5g and it didn't work too well. Yes a gallon tank is small, and you have to be on top of your water changes.

All that being said a larger tank would be better, however your in college and have budget restraints and space restraints I know where you are coming from.

 

However you can justify water changes with keeping a fish below the minimum tank size. Water changes are only good for the minimum size. But if the fish is too big for the tank its too big.